From Việt Nam, Emirates serves daily direct passenger flights, which are operated with two-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from both Ha Noi and HCM City to Dubai. — Photo courtesy of Emirates

HCM CITY — Emirates and dnata (Dubai National Air Transport Association) have been adapting operations in line with regulatory directives as well as travel demand since the COVID-19 outbreak began, according to the Emirates Group.

The airline has maintained passenger flights for as long as feasible to help travellers return home amidst an increasing number of travel bans, restrictions, and country lockdowns across the world.

It also continues to maintain vital international air cargo links for economies and communities, deploying its fleet of 777 freighters for the transport of essential goods including medical supplies across the world.

“Until January 2020, the Emirates Group was doing well against our current financial year targets. But the COVID-19 pandemic has brought all that to a sudden and painful halt over the past six weeks,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group.

“As a global network airline, we find ourselves in a situation where we cannot viably operate passenger services until countries re-open their borders, and travel confidence returns. By Wednesday March 25, although we will still operate cargo flights which remain busy, Emirates will have temporarily suspended most of its passenger operations. We continue to watch the situation closely, and as soon as things allow, we will reinstate our services," said Sheikh Ahmed.

Sheikh Ahmed said that Emirates will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to the following countries and territories until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand: the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, USA, and Canada. The situation remains dynamic, and travellers can check flight status on emirates.com.

The Emirates Group has undertaken a series of measures to contain costs, as the outlook for travel demand remains weak across markets in the short to medium term, such as postponing or cancelling discretionary expenditure; a freeze on all non-essential recruitment and consultancy work; working with suppliers to find cost savings and efficiency; encouraging employees to take paid or unpaid leave in light of reduced flying capacity; and a temporary reduction of basic salary for the majority of Emirates Group employees for three months.

From Việt Nam, Emirates operates daily flights to Dubai from HCM City and twice daily flights from Hà Nội, connecting Vietnamese passengers to more than 150 destinations in 85 countries and territories, including 42 destinations in Europe. — VNS